By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The chief executive of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Group Plc, Mr Temi Popoola, has joined others to celebrate the chairman of Choice International Group (CIG), Ms Diana Chen, on her birthday.

Mr Popoola described the business magnate and philanthropist as “a powerful bridge-builder whose life reflects the influence of networks built on trust, loyalty, and shared vision.”

Speaking at a high-level panel session held in her honour, the NGX Group chief praised Ms Chen as a living testament to the impact of purposeful connection, reflecting on the enduring power of relationships and networks in leadership and legacy-building.

He emphasized that in Africa’s evolving economic and social landscape, success is not just measured by milestones or material wealth, but by the quality of one’s relationships and ability to empower others.

“In a world that is constantly changing, one thing that remains timeless is the strength of your relationships and the quality of your network. These connections are the true capital that sustain us, both in business and in life,” he said.

Mr Popoola also reflected on the power of mentorship, sharing personal insights and stories from Nigerian students in China whose lives have been positively shaped by Chief Chen’s work.

“There’s a kind of calmness, clarity, and drive that comes from living with purpose,” he added, noting that, “Mentorship is not always structured; often, it is embedded in how people feel seen, supported, and guided.”

He stated that true leadership is about intentional impact, shaping people and systems through vision, service, and relationships that endure.

In a country like Nigeria, where challenges often intersect with opportunity, he said leaders must be grounded in purpose and committed to lasting influence.

Ms Chen has consistently championed a model of growth that blends commerce with community, and industry with identity.

In Nigeria, her vision is most evident in sectors such as mobility, renewable energy, education, and public infrastructure, where CIG is actively helping to redefine the landscape of industrial development.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Power distribution companies (Discos) are still falling short when billing customers despite receiving more electricity for distribution, according to the latest report released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

An analysis by Business Post on the May 2025 factsheet shows that while Discos received 2,774.49 GWh of electricity, which translates to a 5.80 per cent increase compared to April, and billed out 2,255.51 GWh, billing efficiency dropped by 2.01 percentage points, settling at 81.29 per cent.

This means nearly 19 per cent of the electricity distributed to consumers remains unbilled, compounding the financial woes in the power sector.

Billing efficiency reflects the ratio of energy billed to the total energy received by Discos. The decline indicates that a significant portion of the energy supplied is either not recorded, lost, or distributed to customers without proper metering, all of which contribute to revenue loss.

The data from NERC during the review month also showed that out of the N261.82 billion billed to customers in May, only N191.57 billion was collected. This reflects a collection efficiency of 73.17 per cent, down by 4.42 per cent from April.

In terms of revenue recovery, Discos were allowed to collect an average of N116.25/kWh, but they managed to recover only N82.05/kWh, pushing recovery efficiency down to 70.58 per cent, a 7.32 per cent drop from the previous month.

On the billing front, Benin, Ikeja, and Eko Discos led the pack, maintaining high billing efficiencies of 88.73 per cent 87.44 per cent, and 87.62 per cent, respectively.

The factsheet showed that Eko Disco also recorded one of the highest improvements in collection performance, suggesting a solid overall commercial strategy.

On the other end, Yola Disco fared the worst, with a billing efficiency of just 63.45 per cent, and a collection efficiency of 50.59 per cent. Jos and Kaduna Discos also reported worrying figures, showing deep cracks in their billing and revenue structures.

An improvement in Nigeria’s billing and collection efficiency could help mitigate challenges amid efforts to increase power generation and supply.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Maritime Law Association (NMLA) has called for the removal of import duties on cabotage vessels to promote the growth of the indigenous shipping fleet ahead of the planned disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) next month.

Speaking at the 2025 NMLA Seminar held in Lagos last week, Mr Boniface Igwe, former Director of Cabotage at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), argued that waiving import duties on such vessels would significantly lower procurement and operational costs.

He also said eliminating these duties would give local shipowners a competitive advantage over foreign operators engaged in Nigeria’s coastal trade.

“It is high time NIMASA began engaging with the Nigeria Customs Service to consider waiving certain duties in support of Cabotage implementation,” Mr Igwe stated, noting that effective and well-monitored Cabotage enforcement could boost Nigeria’s cargo tonnage, enhancing the country’s chances of securing a seat in Category ‘C’ of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council.

Similarly, Mr Fubara Anga, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), stressed the need for the NMLA to present a national strategy document to the government outlining a framework for the disbursement and implementation of the Cabotage Fund.

According to him, this would ensure the fund achieves its intended goals.

Mr Anga added that building local capacity would not only strengthen the domestic shipping sector but also increase government revenue.

In his remarks, former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Mr Hassan Bello, described a well-structured Cabotage regime as a potential game changer for the local shipping industry.

He expressed optimism that, if properly managed, the CVFF disbursement could enable Nigerian shipowners to compete effectively with their foreign counterparts.

Recall that NIMASA has announced plans to commence the disbursement of the $700 million CVFF in August.

The CVFF, established under the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act of 2003, was designed to empower Nigerian shipping companies through access to structured financing for vessel acquisition. However, successive administrations failed to operationalize the fund—until now.